Glasgow and Edinburgh: an LGBTQ+ weekend from Dublin
Drag in Merchant City, cabaret in the Pink Triangle, gay saunas in both cities: how to plan an LGBTQ+ weekend in Glasgow and Edinburgh from Dublin, with our 7 addresses.
A short flight from Dublin, Scotland's two big cities make an easy LGBTQ+ weekend: Glasgow for its Merchant City bars, Edinburgh for the Pink Triangle around the top of Leith Walk. The two are about an hour apart by train, so you can see both in one trip. Our directory lists 7 addresses for this weekend, between drag bars, cabaret and gay saunas. Here is how to plan it.
Planning the trip
Many travellers fly into one city and out of the other. Start in Glasgow on Friday, take the train to Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon and fly home on Sunday. Both city centres are compact and walkable, so you will rarely need a taxi between venues. Check each venue's programme before you travel, because drag nights run on fixed days.
Glasgow: Merchant City
Glasgow's LGBTQ+ scene is concentrated in Merchant City, east of the central station, where bars sit within a few streets of each other.
Delmonica's
Open since 1991 on Virginia Street, Delmonica's, or "Dels", is one of the long-standing addresses of Glasgow's LGBTQ+ scene. It runs a weekly Wednesday drag night, which makes it a good first stop if you arrive midweek.
The Corset Club
In the Jacobean Building, The Corset Club is an LGBTQIA+ cocktail lounge and show bar that opened in 2024. Its Club Couture drag show runs every Friday night with table bookings, so reserve ahead if you want a seat close to the stage.
Katie's Bar
At 17 John Street, Katie's Bar is an underground basement bar that has served the local LGBTQ+ community since July 2013. It is a relaxed place for a drink before or after a show.
The Pipeworks
For a sauna, The Pipeworks Glasgow sits on Metropole Lane near Merchant City. This gay sauna for adult men has a jacuzzi, steam room, dry sauna, private cabins and a café-bar, and runs themed events. More addresses on our Glasgow page.
Edinburgh: the Pink Triangle
Edinburgh's gay quarter, known as the Pink Triangle, sits around Broughton Street and the top of Leith Walk, a short walk from Waverley station.
Planet Bar
On Baxter's Place, Planet Bar is a small gay bar that announces a free drag show every Friday, Showtime Fridays, along with other nights hosted by drag artists.
CC Blooms
Open since 1994, CC Blooms is a long-standing gay bar and club. By day it serves as a bar and restaurant; at night it becomes a club across two floors, with pop, drag acts, cabaret and a dance floor.
Steamworks
In Broughton Market, in the New Town, Steamworks Sauna Edinburgh is a male-only health club with a steam room, sauna, hot tub, darkroom, video room and private cabins, plus weekly themed nights. More on our Edinburgh page.
Good to know
- The UK uses pounds: bring a card that works abroad.
- Book drag shows with table service in advance, especially on Fridays.
- In saunas, photos are banned and a no means no.
All the addresses on the map
Our drag and cabaret and gay sauna pages show every venue in the UK on a map, with directions. On the go, open "Near me" to see the addresses around you.
